Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove
As unique as you can get! This gorgeous 1870's wooden chapel has been lovingly transported and restored into perfect holiday accommodation. The space is perfectly set up as a couples getaway providing an ideal escape from day to day life. Located just 5 minutes drive from Russell, the Chapel at the Olive Grove is close enough to town to enjoy all there is to offer and it also has a Kitchenette and BBQ for those wishing to stay in for a quiet, romantic evening together.
The chapel was built in 1875 in Kawakawa, Bay of Islands by Irish coal miners and was formerly know as St Francis Xavier catholic church. It is listed as a Category 2 Historic building with Heritage New Zealand and is constructed of 1 inch thick rough sawn Kauri planks. It was moved to the site on the olive grove in 2012 by a local couple after it had fallen into disrepair and was no longer in use. It has been lovingly restored and set for its new life as holiday accommodation amongst the olive trees.
Because of the high ceiling and thick wooden walls the Chapel is lovely and cool in the hot summer months and we have an airconditioner/heatpump for added comfort.
Please do note that there is no TV. There is good wireless Wifi and a portable speaker if you would like to bring your own devise and streaming services to use
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Should you be unable to travel for your confirmed booking due to a Covid-19 level change we will happily rebook your dates to a suitable time in the future at no extra charge and can do so as many times as needed
Property manager
Bay of Islands Hideaways
Languages
English
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This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Chapel is available separately as a wedding venue
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Russell
Located in Russell, this cottage is near the beach. Russell Museum and Pompallier Mission are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Bay of Islands Marina and Paihia Wharf. Makana Chocolate Boutique and Action World are also worth visiting. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like ecotours and cycling.
Russell, Northland
What's nearby
Russell Christ Church - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
Russell Beach - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
Flagstaff Hill - 6 min drive - 4.7 km
Paihia Beach - 21 min drive - 11.7 km
Paihia Wharf - 22 min drive - 12.2 km
Getting around
Kerikeri (KKE-Bay of Islands) - 51 min drive
Restaurants
Cbk Craft Beer and Kitchen - 22 min drive
Marina Cafe Opua - 16 min drive
Hone's Garden - 4 min drive
Paihia Wharf - 22 min drive
Charlotte’s Kitchen - 22 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Beautiful & Unique - The Chapel at the Olive Grove located?
Situated near the beach, this cottage is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Bay of Islands and within 3 miles (5 km) of Russell Christ Church and Russell Museum. Pompalier House and Russell Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
What a great find for us. It was exactly what we were looking for as we were visiting for a friend’s wedding. We would definitely highly recommend this place!
Gorgeous location and place. Perfect for a couple’s getaway.
Hard to communicate with property owner/manager owing to need to create an account with the VRBO platform which we didn’t want to do. And there was no other option.
A very unique style of accommodation, a very well restored 1875 chapel converted to a compact accommodation space. Small kitchen, but adequate for your needs. Nice outdoor area overlooking two ponds, heaps of bird life.
Overall, a great place to stay.
I loved staying at the Chapel, it was very private and quiet apart from the occasional sounds of birds outside. The heat pump made it nice and warm in winter. It had everything I needed and it was a nice distance between the ferry and Russell. I wondered whether it would feel weird staying in a former church but it only gave off good vibes. Definitely would recommend and stay again.
My partner and I had a perfect stay in this beautiful place. Bad weather on the first day but happened that sleeping in a chapel on a stormy night is quite an extraordinary experience :)
This is more than a unique place. This is memories.
Highly recommended
Very lovely place. Super quiet. Very handy location at equidistant from the car ferry and Russell. Hassle-free check in/check out process. Highly recommend
Such a beautiful space, everything was spotlessly clean, little kitchen has everything you need and we loved using the BBQ and enjoying the grounds around the chapel. Highly recommend !
Zoe F.
About the host
Hosted by Bay of Islands Hideaways
Hi I'm Kelly and I run Bay of Islands Hideaways. My husband and I have 3 young children and are lucky enough to call the Bay of Islands our home. I firmly believe when travelling that you truly get to know and appreciate a place so much more when you can stay and experience life like a local. Because of this I love the opportunities that holiday home rentals can provide for both myself and those staying in the houses I look after. I take care of several properties in the area and get great enjoyment from meeting new people from all over the world and sharing in their experiences of our beautiful area. As a family we love to get outside as much as possible. Whether its pottering around home in our garden, heading out to the beach or getting out on the water for some fishing
Why they chose this property
Russell just has everything you could possibly need for a great time away. There are world class restaurants right on the waterfront with a to die for view of the sunset nearly every evening. There are wonderful activities and attractions all within easy reach with historic places such as Christs church and Pompallier house right in town and out in the bay dolphin watching, sailing and islands tours leaving every day
What makes this property unique
Its not everyday you get to stay and experience a small piece of Historic New Zealand. The thick Kauri boards provide excellent insulation for cooling in summer and warmth in winter. The layout is just so romantic but also spacious meaning that even though it is just for 2 people there is plenty of space to move around.